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July 14, 1936. M, c, USMGER 2,047,809

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Filed Jan. 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l rra/iw VJ.

' July 14, 1936. M..C US|NGER 2,047,809

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Filed Jan. 51, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES AIl ATENT VOFFICE Matthias C. Usinger, Media, Pa., assignor to Federal Container Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 31, 193s, serial No. 617,662 7 claims. (o1. `zza-23) This invention relates to a box and particularly to a type to be used'for shipping which is, as a consequence, made of heavy material capable of withstanding considerable abuse. In my prior Y application Ser. No. 41,035 there is disclosed a box which oifers various advantages over those heretofore found in the art. The boxshownin said application is provided with an impro-ved type of closure which may be Veither top or bottom or both, which is readily located in closed position and which will maintain such position without any sealing whatever. Briefly stated, the box is provided with flanges about one or more open sides, with which anges there lock inturned flanges carried by a closure. While the closure, if unsealed, may be readily opened, there is no 'danger of its accidentally being opened and the removal is not so easy as to suggest unwarranted opening. Y Y

In general, however, it is desiredto sealsuch a box during shipping irrespective of whetheror not the closure is of such nature as to accidentally open. The nature of the box is such, however, that the sealing means is not required' to contribute to anygreat extent to hold the box closed during quite rough handling dueto theinterlocking nature of theclosure and box sides.

It is the object of the present invention 'to provide means of simple character for permanently closing a boxv of the type just described, which means is particularly effective in protecting the corners Vagainst rough usage. The improved closure means comprises aV staple which extends about thecorners and grips alarge number of plies ofthe box material to thereby afford not only-a permanent nclosure but, by gripping and compressing the bres at the corner, a strong corner which will resist damage.` It may be remarkedthat corners of shipping boxes are the most vulnerable points and the indestructibility of a box is to a major degree determined' by the resistance to destruction `at its corners.

`'I'he objects of the invention will be Vapparent from the following descriptionread'in conjunction, with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showinga preferred modification of the invention with the corner staples `provided at both the top and bottom of a box; f v1' Fig. 2,is a vertical` section taken onthe plane indicated at-2in Fig. `1; Y

lFig. r3 is a Vertical section taken on `the plane indicated at 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a partially locked closureillustrating cooperations-of various parts;

take. place.

tral portion lll is located over the rectangular Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating successive steps in stapling a corner* of the box; and Y Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the preferred type of staples.`

It will' be` understood thatV the type of closure herein specifically described maybe used forV the top or bottom of a' box or both; in the present instanceit is shown as applied to both the top and bottom. The box accordingly consists of side 10 walls 2 and end walls 4 providing upper and lower rectangular openings, which Vopenings are arranged to be closed by identical closure members, The upper and lower free edges of each of the side Walls 2 are provided with outwardly directed' inte- 15 y gral locking flanges 6, while the end walls 4 are provided with similar locking iiaps 8.. These locking flaps are designed to extend substantially parallel with their integral walls. Since all of the'parts of the box are made of heavy cardboard, 20 which may, for example, be of a laminated characterY having a corrugated intermediate ply to .providestrength the various iiaps already'mentioned and those hereafter described may be confveniently delineated Vby scored lines, as is well 25 `known inthis art. The presence of such scored lines provides for the readybendng of flaps in the proper fashion for use.

Each of the closure members comprises a central rectangular portion l0 having dimensions 3o exceeding the outside dimensions of an open end of the box. At the ends of the portion I6 are located end closureaps l2 connected by intermediate-portions I 6 with integral outerk extensions I8. 'IheseV portions are dened from each 35 other Dy-scored lines along which folding may The extensions I8 are shorter than the iapsv l2. `The necessity forfthis will be obvious hereafter upon consideration of the mode of use of the closure. Similar flaps 2l) and intermediate'portions and extensions 24 and 26 are of. the single end extensions there may be pro- .vided the double ones as disclosed in my prior application.

VIn assembling theimproved closure,the cenopeningof the box as indicated in Fig. 1. The Vlongitudinally extending anges 20are then fold- -ed over the locking flaps't` and their outer extensions are tucked under the flaps 6 as indicated in Fig. 2. Following this the end extensions28 are folded inwardly outside the ends of the locking flaps 8 and then the flaps I2 are folded over the locking flaps 8 and the end extensions 28 and their outer extensions forced between the flaps 8 and the walls 4. The placing of each closure in position is preferably effected so that the opposite flaps are manipulated simultaneously. When this is done, closure of the box is merely a matter of a few seconds.

If cardboard is used, such as the corrugated intermediate ply type in common use, the stiness of the various flaps is such that a quite secure closure is obtained which may be opened only with substantial difculty considerably greater than that required to effect closure. This is by reason of the fact that the inturned outer extensions of the flaps are not readily pulled outwardly and can be engaged only frictionally by the fingers.

Examining the box at this point, it will be noted that the corners have sections as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, there being four .thicknesses of cardboard on one side of a corner and five on the other. It may be remarked, however, that the extension 26 may, in some cases, not be used, thereby providing only three thicknesses on one side. Other variations of the plies may be provided but desirably there will be a plurality of thicknesses on each side of each corner, forming a stronger reinforced corner even without the use of any additional reinforcing means. In View of the reinforcing nature of the staples, plural plies are not absolutely necessary, however, if the box is not to be subjected to very hard usage.

In accordance with the present invention, however, additional reinforcement is provided by ernbracing and penetrating the corners by means of staples indicated at 3G. As shown in Fig. 7, each of these staples comprises a corner-embracing portion 38 preferably provided with a slight bend at 32 so as to facilitate proper placing and insure the attainment of a symmetrical-result. The ends of the staple are provided with curved prongs 34. The staples are preferably formed of steel and are flat, as indicated in Fig. 7. I-Iowever, their cross-section may be of otherforms, for example, circular, and it has been found quite satisfactory to use pig-rings instead of the specie form of staple shown herein. 'Ihe staple may be conveniently secured in position by the use of a tool such as 36 operated through the successive steps indicated in Figs. 5. and 6. At first the staple may be located in notches 38 in the jaws of the tool and pressed against the corner, as indicated ink Fig. 5, so that a slight ini,- tial penetration of the prongs 34 takes place into the outer cardboard plies. Thereafter, by closing the jaws and maintaining the pressure on the corner, the staple may be finally driven into the position indicated in Fig. 6, with the two prongs substantially meeting each other, preferably slightly overlapping and penetrating the junction of Walls 2 and 4 so that every ply at the corner is penetrated by one or the other of the prongs. Overlapping is facilitated if the prongs are oppositely bevelled in pointing, as indicated in Fig. '7. The size of the prongs should be so chosen that innermost plies at the cornerlare penetrated but nevertheless` so that the prongs do not project, at least to any appreciable extent, inside the box; By choosing the proper size prongs it has been found thatcomplete penetration of all the plies without substantial overpenetration may be readily secured.

During the stapling operation the forces exerted tend to locally compress the plies. This compacting aids very greatly in strengthening the corners by preventing any successive separation of the plies in use. At the same time it will be clear that the corners are additionally metallically reinforced by the exterior portions of the staple. Additional reinforcement may be provided by inserting more than one staple in each corner. `It will be clear that numerous variations in the embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from its scope as defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end walls having free edges defning a rectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, at least two opposite walls having integral locking flaps extending outwardly from their free edges, said closure having at its four edges integral closure iiaps free from each other at their adjacent ends, at least two of said closure flaps, which correspond to said locking flaps, having integral outer extensions, and each of the other closure flaps having a pair of end extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening, with the locking iiaps located substantially parallel to their carrying walls and covered by the corresponding closure flaps, the outer extensions of the last-named closure fiaps being located between the respective locking flaps and their walls, and the end extensions of the other closure flaps being embraced between the first-mentioned closure flaps and their outer extensions, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box Walls.

2. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end walls having free edges dening a rectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, said walls having integral locking flaps extending' outwardly from their four free edges, said closure having at its four edges integral closure flaps free from each other at their adjacent ends, all of said closure flaps having integral outer extensions, and each of two of the closure flaps having a pair of end extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers. said rectangular opening, with the locking flaps located substantially parallel to their carrying walls and covered by the corresponding closure flaps, the outer extensions of the closure flaps being located between the respective locking flaps and their walls, and the end extensions being embraced between the closure flaps which do not carry them and their louter extensions, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box walls.

3. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end Walls having free edges deiining arrectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, at least two opposite walls having integral locking flaps extending outwardly from their free edges, said closure having at its four edges integral closure flaps free from each other at their adjacent ends, at

least two of s aid closure flaps, which correspond to said locking iiaps, having integral outer extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening, with the locking aps located substantially parallel to their carrying walls and covered by the corresponding closure flaps, the outer extensions of the last-named closure flaps being located between the respective locking aps and their walls, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box walls. the prongs being concave outwardly at the corner.

4. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end walls having free edges defining a rectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, said walls having integral locking flaps extending outwardly from their four free edges, said closure having at its four edges integral closure flaps free from each other at their adjacent ends, all of said closure flaps having integralouter extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening, with the locking flaps located substantially parallel to their carrying wallsand covered by the corresponding closure flaps, the outer extensions of the closure flaps being located between the respective locking aps and their walls, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box walls, the prongs being concave outwardly at the corner.

5. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end Walls having free edges deiining a rectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, at least two opposite walls having integral locking flaps extending outwardly from their free edges, said closure having at its four edges integral closure flaps free from each other at their adjacent ends, at least two of said closure naps, which correspond to said locking flaps, having integral outer extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening, with the locking flaps located substantially parallel to their carrying walls and covered by the corresponding closure aps, the outer extensions of the last-named closure flaps being located between the respective locking flaps and their walls, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box Walls.

6. A box formed of pasteboard orthe like comprising side and end walls having free edges dening a rectangular opening, and a rectangular closure for the opening, said walls having integral locking naps extending outwardly from their four free edges, said closure having at its Yfour edges integral closure aps free from each other at their adjacent ends, all of said closure aps having integral outer extensions, said parts being constructed and arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening, with the locking aps located substantially parallel to their carrying walls and covered by the corresponding closure flaps, the outer extensions of the closure flaps being located between the respective locking flaps and their walls, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent the inner angle of the box walls.

7. A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end walls havingl free edges defining a rectangular opening, and a rectangular n closure for the opening, said closure having at its four edges integral closure aps free from each other at their adjacent ends, said parts being constructed Vand arranged so that, when the closure is in place, it covers said rectangular opening with the closure aps exteriorly overlapping the free edges of the side and end walls, and staples, each embracing a corner of the closure and having prongs penetrating through the various plies at the corner and substantially meeting adjacent Vthe inner angle of the box walls.v

MATTHIAS C. USINGER. 

